Rack system for automatic dishwasher



March 21, 1967 w. s. PATTISON RACK SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1965 III INVENTOR.

WESLEY S. PATTIsOM W n H \s ATTORNEY March 21, 1967 w, s. PATTISON I 3,310,354

RACK SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER I NVENTOR. WESLEY S PATT SON BY W w H \s ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,310,354 RACK SYSTEM FGR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER WVesley S. Pattison, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 443,007 5 Claims. (Cl. 312269) This invention relates generally to a rack system for an automatic dishwasher and, more particularly, to a rack system for a top-opening dishwasher.

Two long-standing problems which have heretofore limited the appeal of a top-opening dishwasher are, on the one hand, difficulty of access to the lower dish-supporting rack and, on the other hand, limited capacity of the upper dish-supporting rack due to the opening normally provided therein for access to the lower rack. Various solutions have been proposed for each of these problems; however, it has been discovered that a partial solution of one of the problems usually compounds the other problem. That is, any attempt to increase the capacity of the upper rack in a top-opening dishwasher usually results in less accessibility to the lower rack and, similarly, any at-- tempt to increase accessibility to the lower rack usual-1y results in a loss of capacity of the upper rack. The most successful attempt heretofore to overcome both problems simultaneously is that described and claimed by L. W. Guth in US. Patent 3,087,769, issued on Apr. 30, 1963, and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. The rack system described by L. W. Guth provides only a partial solution to the abovediscussed problem since there still is some difficulty encountered in placing dishes in the rear portion of the lower rack due to the positioning of the rear section of the upper rack. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved rack system which facilitates the loading and removal of the dishes at the rear portion of the lower rack in a top-opening dishwasher Without sacrificing capacity of the upper rack.

Also, although the rack system described by L. W. Guth in his aforementioned patent enhances the accessibility to the lower rack, it is still necessary with his arrangement to reach well down into the dishwasher cabinet in order to remove and insert dish-es into the lower rack. It is inconvenient, especially for women who are shorter than the average, to reach the required distance into the machine. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved rack system which obviates a long reach down into the dishwasher in order to insert or remove dishes from the lower rack.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rack system for a top-opening dishwasher which increases the accessibility of the lower rack while maintaining or increasing the capacity of the upper rack.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a rack system for a top-opening dishwasher which shortens the distance into the machine which the operator must reach in order to insert or remove dishes from the lower rack.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, an improved rack system is provided for an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for the access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical open position. This rack system includes a pair of rack members pivotally carried by the closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed. The pair of rack members are adapted to move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is opened. A third rack member is positioned within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the "ice closure member is closed and means interconnect one of the pair of rack members and the third rack member whereby the third rack member is moved upwardly within the wash chamber as the closure member is opened. With this arrangement, as the closure member is opened, the pair of rack members near the upper portion of the wash chamber move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber to enhance the accessibility to either of these members. Because the aforementioned pair of rack members move upwardly, access to the third, or lower, rack member is facilitated and, moreover, due to the upward movement of the third rack member, it is unnecessary for the operator to reach as far down int-o the wash chamber as heretofore necessary to insert or remove articles from the third rack member.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following escriiption taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially cut away and partially in section, of an automatic dishwasher utilizing the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but showing the closure member of the dishwasher in the open position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated a top-opening portable dishwasher 1t Dishwasher 1% includes an outer cabinet 11 having therein a wash chamber 12. Outer cabinet 11 has four interconnected vertical side walls and an open top and bottom. The open top serves as an access opening for the admission of articles to, and removal of articles from, the wash chamber 12. This access opening is provided with a closure member 13 pivotally secured to one wall of the cabinet 11 by a hinge member 14. Hinge member 14 includes suitable counter balance means to compensate for the weight of the closure member 13 and the weight of other elements, to be discussed rnore fully hereinafter, which are carried by the closure member 13. The lower extremity of wash chamber 12 is defined by bottom wall 15, the periphery of which is in liquid-tight relationship to the four vertical walls of cabinet 11. Bottom wall 15 has a centrally depressed portion forming a sump 16 in which liquid will collect. Disposed within sump 16 and supported by bottom wall 15 is a motor pump assembly 17 which includes an electrically reversible drive motor 18 and a pump 19. Mounted for rotation at the top of pump 19 is a reaction-type spray arm 20.

Pump 19 has an inlet 21 extending substantially around the entire lower periphery of pump 19 and through which fluid enters from sump 16. Pump 19 is of the type which, during rotation of motor 18 in one direction, withdraws wash fluid from sump 16 through inlet 21 and propels it upwardly into spray arm 20 to effectuate a washing action within chamber 12. During the opposite direction of rotation of motor 18, pump 19 withdraws wash fluid from sump 16 through inlet 21 and propels it out through a discharge conduit 22 which communicates with a household sewer system (not shown).

At the bottom of cabinet 11, a member 23 is provided to support dishwasher 10 on casters or rollers 24 to render dishwasher 1t) capable of convenient movement.

An electrical resistance heating element 25 is supported.

by bottom wall 15 and is provided to facilitate drying of dishes within wash chamber 12 upon completion of washing and rinsing operations.

Of course, means must be provided within wash chamber 12 to support the articles or dishes to be washed in a manner whereby the wash action generated by the spray arm eifectuates cleansing of the articles. This means usually includes a lower dish-supporting rack and an upper dish-supporting rack. As discussed above, topopening dishwashers of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1 have faced a two-fold problem of providing suitable accessibility to the lower rack while at the same time maintaining maximum capacity of the upper rack. Prior to the introduction of the arrangement described and claimed in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent 3,087,769, the com ventional means for access to the lower rack comprised a large central opening in the upper rack through which articles could be passed to place them in, or remove them from, the lower rack. The arrangement set forth in US. Patent 3,087,769 made a significant contribution to overcoming the above-described two-fold problem; however, with such arrangement there still existed some inconvenience in inserting and removing articles from the lower rack due to the fact that it was permanently positioned near the bottom of the wash chamber which necessitated the operator of the dishwasher to reach through the top access opening and well down into the wash chamber.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved rack system is provided and includes a first rack member 26 and a second rack member 27 which are normally positioned side-by-side in the upper portion of wash chamber 12 when closure member 13 is closed. The first, or front, rack member 26 is pivotally secured to a bracket 28 by means of a clip 29 and a pin 343. Clip 29 is substantially rigidly secured to rack member and pin 30 interconnects clip 29 and bracket 28 in a pivotal relationship. Bracket 28 is rigidly secured to closure member 13 and depends down into wash chamber 12, shown in FIGURE 1, when closure member 13 is closed. The second, or rear, rack member 27 is similarly secured to a bracket 31 by means of a clip 32 and a pin 33.

The terms front and rear describe the relationship of the rack members 26 and 27 to each other with respect to the front and rear of the dishwasher 19. Rear rack member 27 is disposed closer to hinge member 14 than is rack member 26. In the preferred form of the present invention, there is actually a pair of brackets 28 and a pair of brackets 31; however, the second bracket of each pair is hidden in FIGURE 1 since, in each case, the second bracket is disposed directly behind the visible bracket as viewed in FIGURE 1.

A first link 34 is pivotally secured at one end to rack member 26 by means of a clip 35 and a pin 36, it being understood that clip 35 is substantially rigidly secured to rack member 26 and that pin 36 pivotally interconnects link 34 with clip 35. Link 34, at its other end, is similarly pivotally secured to rack member 27 by means of a clip 37 and a pin 38.

Positioned within wash chamber 12, near the lower portion thereof, is a third, or lower, rack member 39. Rack member 39 is secured to a generally vertically disposed bar 40 which has a roller 41 rotatably secured thereto adjacent each end thereof. Rollers 41 are positioned Within a track, or slot, 42 formed in a guide member 43. Guide member 43 is suitably secured to one of the side walls of cabinet 11. Rack member 39 may also be provided with supports 44 which are adapted to rest upon bottom wall 15 when rack member 39 is in its lowermost position as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The rollers 41 are secured to bar 40 by means of pins 45. Pin 45 also pivotallysecures a second link 46 to bar 40. The upper end of link 46 is rigidly secured to rack member 27. Link 46 may be secured to rack member 27 by such means as, for example, welding the two members together. In order to increase the structural strength of the union between link 46 and rack member 27, in the preferred form of the present invention, an extension 47 is provided, integral with link 46, to present additional contact points between link 46 and rack member 27.

With the above-described rack system, the individual elements of the system will assume the relationship illustrated in FIGURE 2 as closure member 13 is pivoted from its substantially horizontal closed position to its substantially vertical open position. By comparing FIG- URES 1 and 2, it can be seen that, along with the substantial displacement of rack member 26 up and out of wash chamber 12, rack member 27 also undergoes substantial displacement upwardly to provide significantly better access thereto. Rack member 39 also moves upwardly a significant distance which greatly enhances access to that rack member inasmuch as it is unnecessary to reach down into wash chamber 12 to the degree heretofore necessary to insert or remove articles from the lower rack of a top-opening dishwasher.

Rack member 39 may be secured to bar 40 by such suitable means, as, for example, welding. It should be noted that rollers 41 are spaced from each other a substantial distance to provide rigidity to the lower rack member 39 since, as rack member 39 moves upwardly with the opening of closure member 13, the relationship between rollers 41 and slot 42 is the only factor controlling the tipping of rack member 39 as well as its lateral movement within Wash chamber 12. In the preferred form of the present invention, there are two bars 40 and two guide members 43 provided, one on each side of the rack, to further assure the desired structural rigidity of the over-all rack system. Also, if desired, there may be provided two links 46 to interconnect rack member 27 with bar 40; however, it is presently believed that the rack system of the present invention will suitably function with only a single link 46.

Thus, it can be seen that the above-described arrangement provides an improved rack system which facilitates the loading of articles into, and the removal of articles from, the lower rack of a top-opening dishwasher without sacrificing capacity of the upper rack. Sacrifice of capacity of the upper rack is avoided since the two rack members 26 and 27 consume substantially the entire crosssectional area of wash chamber 12 when they are positioned as shown in FIGURE 1, which is the wash position.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the par-- ticular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for said access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical open position, a rack system comprising:

(a) a pair of rack members pivotally carried by the closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(b) said pair of rack members being adapted to move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is opened,

(0) a third rack member positioned within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed, and

(d) means interconnecting one of said pair of rack members and said third rack member whereby said third rack member is moved upwardly within the wash chamber as the closure member is opened.

2. In an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for said access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closedposition to a substantially vertical open position, a rack system comprising:

(a) first and second rack members pivotally carried by said closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(b) at least said second rack member being adapted to move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is open,

(0) a third rack member positioned within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed, and

((1) means. interconnecting said second rack member and said third rack member whereby said third rack member is moved upwardly within the wash chamber as the closure member is opened.

3. In an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for said access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical open position, a rack system comprising:

(a) a pair of rack members pivotally carried by the closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(b) said pair of rack members being adapted to move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is opened,

(c) a third rack member positioned within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the closure memher is closed, and

((1) means including .a link member rigidly secured to one of said pair of rack members and further secured to said third rack member whereby said third rack member is moved upwardly within the wash chamber as the closure member is opened.

4. In an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for said access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical open position, a rack system comprising:

(a) a pair of rack members pivotally carried by the closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(b) said pair of rack members being adapted to move up and .at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is opened,

(c) a third rack member positioned within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the closure memher is closed, and

(d) a link member secured adjacent one of its ends to one of said pair of rack members and extending downwardly therefrom,

(e) said link member secured adjacent its other end to a bar attached to said third rack member,

(f) said ibar having means to guide the direction of travel of said third rack upwardly as the closure member is opened.

5. In an automatic dishwasher having a cabinet defining therein a wash chamber with an access opening at the top and a closure member for said access opening pivotal about a hinge means from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical open position, a rack system comprising:

(a) a pair of rack members pivotally carried. by the closure member and positioned within the upper portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(b) said pair of rack members being adapted to move up and at least partially out of the wash chamber as the closure member is opened,

(0) a third rack member positioned Within the lower portion of the wash chamber when the closure member is closed,

(d) a link member secured adjacent one of its ends to one of said pair of rack members and extending downwardly therefrom,

(e) a generally vertically disposed bar rigidly secured to said third rack member and secured to said link member,

(t) said bar having a pair of spaced rollers pivotally secured thereto, and

(g) guide means having a slot therein secured to one wall of the dishwasher cabinet,

(h) said rollers adapted to cooperate with said slot to control the direction of travel of said third rack upwardly as the closure member is opened.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 372,812 11/1887 Marquis et al. 206-12 1,652,984 12/1927 Hixson 312-269 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,124,071 7/ 1938 Loftin. 2,290,116 7/ 1942 Morner.

2,455,154 11/1948 Bailey. 3,087,769 4/1963 Guth.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER HAVING A CABINET DEFINING THEREIN A WASH CHAMBER WITH AN ACCESS OPENING AT THE TOP AND A CLOSURE MEMBER FOR SAID ACCESS OPENING PIVOTAL ABOUT A HINGE MEANS FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL CLOSED POSITION TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL OPEN POSITION, A RACK SYSTEM COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF RACK MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY THE CLOSURE MEMBER AND POSITIONED WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE WASH CHAMBER WHEN THE CLOSURE MEMBER IS CLOSED, (B) SAID PAIR OF RACK MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE UP AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY OUT OF THE WASH CHAMBER AS THE CLOSURE MEMBER IS OPENED, (C) A THIRD RACK MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN THE LOWER 